Clasp for plastic cases



April s, 1947. W, B, CRANE 2,418,578

CLASP FOR PLASTIC CASES I Filed Jah. 29. 1944 Wa 70N 5. CPA/v; lINVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 8, 1947 CLASP FOR PLASTIC CASES Walton B. Crane, West LosAngeles, Calif., as-

signor to Allied Plastics Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a copartnershipcomposed of Dwight C. Hirsh and Harry G. Long Application January 29,1944, Serial No. 520,213

(Cl. 22o-60) 2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to plastics, and more particularly toclasps for plastic cases and the like.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved clasp for plastic cases and the like, such as compacts, vanitycases, cigarette cases, etc. Various types of clasps have been used inthe past, and have of course been highly successful in metalconstruction; also there have been several types of clasps designedespecially for use in plastics, and these have been suitable for certainapplications. However, none of these have been found .entirelyV suitablefor such an article, for instance, as a large plastic compact, Where agood, strong, easily operable clasp, not likely to open accidentally, isrequisite.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a plasticcompact embodying an improved clasp. f

, Theclasp of thepresent invention will be best understood fromthefollotving` detailed description of one present illustrativeembodiment thereof, referenceiforlthis purpose being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 `is a plan view of a compact embodying the` clasp, the compactbeing shown in closed condition;

' Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,"but showing the lid of thecompactin the operation of closing. The full lines show a preliminaryposition, and the dotted lines indicate the resilient give'of the lidand clasp as closing pressure is exerted; A

Fig. 3 is a View similarto Fig. `2, b ut showing the device closedandFig. 4 is a bottom plan detail taken as indicated by arrows 4-4in Fig.3.

In the drawings, numeral I designates a compact formed of a plastic suchas cellulose acetate and embodying the clasp of the invention, and thiscompact includes two hinged halves or parts II and I2, which in thisinstance consist of a base and a lid, respectively. The compact chosenfor illustrative purposes is to be taken as representative of anyplastic case or receptacle in which the improvements of the inventionmay be incorporated, and the invention is of course not to be taken aslimited to the specific type of case here shown.

In the particular embodiment of the invention chosen for illustrativepurposes the base II and lid I2 are both circular in outline, and bothare hollowed out to form the interior compartment I3.

'I'he cavity within the base part II includes a arm whose upper sideextends smoothly from the convex top wall surface 28. The curvature ofthe` circular or cylindrical chamber I4 adaptednto receive a powder puff(not shown), and below is` a slightly concave depression I5 adapted tore` ceive a quantity of face powder. The concave inner surface of thisdepressiontogether with the correspondingly convex bottom surface I6 ofthe base renea comparatively thin convex bottom Wall I'I. The base I Iis formed with a peripheral and preferably tapering flange-I 8, having atapering upper surface I9. Inside this flange, on the top, is anupwardly facing horizontal annular seating surface 2l), and inside andraised slightly` above the latter is an annular flange 2| which definesthe aforementioned circular chamber I4.

The cavity within the lid part I2 is denedxby a seat 25 for a `mirror25, and inside said seat by a concave inside wall surface 2l,whichtogether with the correspondingly convexoutside orA top surface 28define a comparatively thin" convex .top wall 29. Outside seat 25 isantannular dawnwardly facing seat 3U adapted to seat on flange 2l ofbase II, and around seat 30 is a raised annular seat 3l adapted to seaton annular seat 28 of base II.

Lid I2 has at one side an extension35 received between a pair of hingelugs 36, and a metal hinge pin 31 passes through the lugs 35 and theextension 35 to provide the hinge.

Diametrically opposite from hinge extension 35 is a clasp extension 4i?,which is in the form of an top of the compact is such that this clasparm makes an angle of approximately 13 1/2" with horizontal. Theunderside of this clasp arm is adaptedto engage flat against taperedsurface I9` on base II, and the taper of this surface I9 is hence alsoat IBI/2 with horizontal. Depending from the outer end of the clasp armis a. hook part or catch 42, which is receivable in a notch or recess 43formed in the tapered flange I8. As

will appear, the lateral surfaces of this notch or n recess receive thelateral surfaces of the hooked end portion of the clasp arm and may thusafford a lateral positioningor guiding support for the lid as the latteris moved into closed position. The inside or bottom surface 44 of thiscatch 42 is preferably formed at about 15 with vertical, so that theangle between said surface 44 and the underside of the clasp arm is afew degrees, here 11%2 less than a right angle. The bottom 45 of thenotch 43 is also preferably at 15 with vertical, so there is an angle ofslightly less than a right angle between the bottom of the notch and theseating surface I9.

Referring more particularly to the full line position of the lid in Fig.2, the hook part or catch is so spaced from the hinge that it normallyoverlaps the surface IQ by a small fraction of an inch.

To close the compact, the lid I2 and base I l are squeezed together withthe fingers. The concave Wall 29 of the lid, being of plastic, and alsobeing comparatively thin (Figs. 2 and 3 are approximately full size andthe typical wall thickness may be understood from an inspection of saidfigures), is somewhat exible or resilient, and gives slightly under suchpressure, with the result that it and the clasp' arm bend inwardslightly, and this results in the lower corner of catch 42 swingingoutwardly sumcently far to' pass or clear the bottom surface 45 of thenotch. Thereupon catch 42 snaps into notch 43 and the parts assume theclosed position of Fig. 3.'

locked*closed.` To'v open the compact, upward pressure' is cicourseexerted on the clasp arm, causing the" latter and the whole topwall 29 of'th1 `1idl to give'sli'ghtly; and in this' way the hk--- orcatch 42 is freed or cleared from the no-tcllf The clasri` as thusdescribed utilizes the entirey Y uppervhalf or lid of the compact a's aspring, which must be deformed both in closing and in openingth'efcomp'act. Thus' there is secured'. a good and dependable spring;action, which is sure and strong;y and whichl nevertheless is subject toeasy andconventional'manipulation by the user.

The 'drawing anddescrip'ti'cn' are of course to be understood as' merelyillustrativeV of' one prese'n-t embodiment of theinvention; and it willbe evident that various changes in design, structure andl arrangementmay be made without departin'glfrom the spirit and: scope of theinvention or ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

l.` Al compact comprising a concaved base and a'iconcaved lidhinged-'thereto adapted to meet iny closing plane todei'ine acompartment, said lidi embodying a slightly bendable'resilient wall,mutually abutting seatingv surfaces on said base and lidsui'ro'u'ndingsaid compartment, a peripheral flange on said base projecting outwardlybeyond the peripheryfof saidV lid; a claspV arm with afhooked end'portion projecting from-the l periphery of said lid oppositely from thehinge,

a notch in said flange adapted to receive the hooked portion of saidclasp arm, a locking seat at the bottom of said notch over which saidhooked portion of said clasp arm is engageable when said lid is moved toclosed position, and a surface on said base flangeimmediately inwardlyof said seat in said notchand facing toward said clasp arm, said clasparm' being so disposed that its hooked end normally slightly overlapssaid last mentioned surface, but is adapted toA clear s aid surface andengage said locking seat when said bendable resilient wall of said lidand its clasp arm are deflected inwardly.

2:' A-'rcornpact comprising a concavedl base and aconcaved lid` hingedthereto adapted to meet in a closin'g planete define a compartment, saidlid embodying -aslightly bendable resilient wall,

, mutually abutting seating surfaces on said base and lid surroundingsaid compartment, a peripheral flange on said base projectingoutwardlybeyo'nd the periphery' of said lid', ai clasp'arrn' witha-hooked' end por'ti'r projecting? from 'tlep l ripheryrof said lidoppositely from the hing a" notch in saidf'fla'ng'e adaptedl to'receiveth'er hooked portion of said clasp arrn, a locking-seat at the"bottom of said notch' over which said hooked' portion' of said clasp armYengage'ablef when' said lid is` moved to closed p("si'tio'lfr,4 'and anoutwardly and downwardlyv linclinedV surface lon saidl base flangelocated-immediatelyinwardly of saidV seat in said notchgsai'd clasp'arlfrlltlei'gZ sodsposed' that its hooked endnormally s'lig` overlapssaid last mentioned surface,but is a'dap ed' to'clearv said surface andengagesfai'd locking yseat when said bendable resilient wall of-sa`idLlid'a'nd its clasp arm are deflected inwardly.'

WALTON B: GRA-NEB REFRENCES cITE) The following references are'ofrvrdithe file of this'patent:

UITEn STATSPATENTS NumberV Y Y vNamev Date"`rr 2,207,532k Carlsonr;;1July9jl940, 362,712 Boyd" May' 10;;Y 1,950,465 Whitlock Mari` r3;19,32? 1,547,587` Kendan Ju1y28,{1925 l998,160 D`anie 1s' ,ulyia 19111j1,950,465 Whitiojck Mar; 13,11v 341 239,274' snadowsky Mar. 22,113'81f2,329,442 Popp sept. 14,A 19131? 1,817,310 Hauch Augjl';lf3-Elf-AFOREIGN 'PATENTS -V

